Linnea Tanner's Blog, page 10
November 7, 2024
Nicolette Croft The Curse of Maiden Scars Audiobook Blog Tour Tour #HistoricalFiction #GothicFiction #WomensFiction #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @croft_nicolette @cathiedunn
I‘m pleased to welcome Nicolette Croft as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Audiobook Blog Tour being held between November 6th – 8th, 2024. Nicolette Croft is the author of the Romance / Women’s Fiction / Coming-of-age / Gothic novel, The Curse of Maiden Scars (Maiden Mother Crone), released by Historium Press on June 4, 2024 (288 pages).
Below are highlights of The Curse of Maiden Scars, Nicolette Croft’s author bio, and an audiobook sample narrated by Liz May Brice.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/10/blog-tour-the-curse-of-maiden-scars-audiobook-by-nicolette-croft.html
HIGHLIGHTS: THE CURSE OF MAIDEN SCARS
The Curse of Maiden Scars
(Maiden Mother Crone)
by Nicolette Croft
Narrated by Liz May Brice
Blurb:
A Yorkshire orphan struggling for opportunity against 18th-century odds reluctantly transforms into a Venetian courtesan during the Empire’s last days.
Sixteen-year-old Renna Covert toils away in the shadows of a Yorkshire workhouse, her days filled with the mundane task of shelling cotton and the dangerous duty of scouting for punters. One fateful night, she crosses paths with two sailors and finds herself thrust into the heart of a chilling encounter at the local asylum.
These harrowing experiences catalyze Renna’s journey, promising newfound opportunities and revealing long-buried family secrets. Yet, at every turn, powerful forces conspire to thwart her quest for truth, forcing her to abandon her scullery work and embark on a daring escape to Venice alongside her steadfast companions.
In the labyrinthine alleys of Venice, Renna’s fate takes yet another twist. She is ensnared by a cunning Madam who trains her as a Venetian courtesan. But beneath the veneer of luxury lies a world fraught with danger, where Renna must rely on her witts and resilience to navigate the treacherous waters of deceit and betrayal.
Set against the backdrop of Venice’s tumultuous Napoleonic invasion of 1797, this is a tale of a girl’s struggle for survival. It is a story of resilience, defiance in the face of adversity, and, ultimately, one young woman’s determination to reclaim her identity.
THE CURSE OF MAIDEN SCARS is a coming-of-age, women’s fiction novel with gothic flair set in the tradition of Victoria Mas’ THE MADWOMAN’S BALL, and Sarah Dunant’s IN THE COMPANY OF THE COURTESAN, with the sensuality of LADY CHATTERLEY’S LOVER.
Triggers: Scenes of coercion, physical and sexual abuse, references to drugs and alcohol
*Listen to Sample*Audiobook Sample
Listening Length: 11 hours 50 minutes
B uy Links:
Universal Ebook Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/mgDEOq
Audible US Buy Link: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Curse-of-Maiden-Scars-Audiobook/B0D9R4BCHX
Amazon US Audiobook Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/The-Curse-of-Maiden-Scars/dp/B0D9R32NN9/
AUTHOR BIO: NICOLETTE CROFT
Nicolette Croft can’t remember a time when she was not creating imaginary worlds inspired by her Hungarian and American ancestors. As a neuro-divergent learner, however, putting those stories to paper proved more challenging than imagining them. Because her determination would not allow her to settle, she pursued an English B.A. to improve her writing.
Young motherhood also brought unexpected challenges, which motivated her to pursue graduate work in twice-exceptional learners and education. She would later add an M.A. degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, specializing in neurodivergent people, trauma, and grief. Nicolette uses her natural gift of storytelling as an exploratory method for her clients.
The Curse of Maiden Scars is also an outgrowth of her personal journey and marks her first publication as a novelist, having previously published short fiction. When not at her counseling practice or researching historical facts for her latest story, Nicolette shares treasured time with family, friends, and her husband. Whether writing, cooking, traveling, or learning, the act of creation is always at the center of her colorful life.
Author Links :
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: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
October 28, 2024
Book Review The King’s Intelligencer Elizabeth St.John #TheKingsIntelligencer #HistoricalFiction #HistoricalMystery #TheLydiardChronicles #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @ElizStJohn @cathiedunn
I’m delighted to welcome Elizabeth St.John again as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour, being held between October 21st – November 1st, 2024. She is the author of the Historical Fiction, The King’s Intelligencer: Discovering the Missing Princes in the Tower, published on 15th October 2024 by Falcon Historical (494 pages).
Below are highlights of The King’s Intelligencer, Elizabeth St.John’s author bio, and my 5-star review of her impeccably researched book.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/09/blog-tour-kings-intelligencer-by-elizabeth-stjohn.html
HIGHLIGHTS: THE KING’S INTELLIGENCER
The King’s Intelligencer: Discovering the Missing Princes in the Tower
By Elizabeth St.John
Blurb:
London, 1674: When children’s bones are unexpectedly unearthed in the Tower of London, England’s most haunting mystery—the fate of the missing princes—is reignited.
Franny Apsley, trusted confidante to Charles II’s beloved niece and heir, Lady Mary Stuart, is caught up in the court’s excitement surrounding the find. Yet, as a dark family secret comes to light, Franny realises the truth behind the missing princes is far more complex—and dangerous—than anyone suspects. Recruited by her formidable cousin Nan Wilmot, Dowager Countess of Rochester, to discover the truth behind the bones, Franny is thrust into the shadowy world of intelligencers. But her quest is complicated by an attraction to the charismatic court artist Nicholas Jameson, a recent arrival from Paris who harbours secrets of his own.
Pursued by Nicholas, Franny searches for evidence hidden in secret family letters and paintings, and uncovers a startling diplomatic plot involving Lady Mary, which causes Franny to question her own judgment, threatens the throne, and sets England on a course for war. With only her courage and the guidance of an enigmatic spy within the royal household, Franny must decide how far she will go to expose the truth—and whether that truth will lead to England’s salvation or her own heartbreak.
In a glittering and debauched society where love is treacherous and loyalty masked, Franny must navigate a world where a woman’s voice is often silenced and confront the ultimate question: What is she willing to risk for the sake of her country, her happiness, and her family’s safety?
A captivating historical novel of conspiracy, passion, and courage, The King’s Intelligencer is one woman’s quest for a truth that could change the fate of a nation. A companion to the critically acclaimed best-selling novels The Godmother’s Secret and The Lydiard Chronicles, The King’s Intelligencer weaves together beloved characters and actual events to bring a suspenseful mystery to life.
Buy Links:
This title is available to read on #Kindle Unlimited.
Universal Buy Link: https://geni.us/KingsIntelligencer
AUTHOR BIO: ELIZABETH ST.JOHN
Elizabeth St.John’s critically acclaimed historical fiction novels tell the stories of her ancestors: extraordinary women whose intriguing kinship with England’s kings and queens brings an intimately unique perspective to Medieval, Tudor, and Stuart times.
Inspired by family archives and residences from Lydiard Park to the Tower of London, Elizabeth spends much of her time exploring ancestral portraits, diaries, and lost gardens. And encountering the occasional ghost. But that’s another story.
Living between California, England, and the past, Elizabeth is the International Ambassador for The Friends of Lydiard Park, an English charity dedicated to conserving and enhancing this beautiful centuries-old country house and park. As a curator for The Lydiard Archives, she is constantly looking for an undiscovered treasure to inspire her next novel.
Elizabeth’s works include The Lydiard Chronicles, a trilogy set in 17th-century England during the Civil War, and The Godmother’s Secret, which unravels the medieval mystery of the missing princes in the Tower of London. Her latest release, The King’s Intelligencer, follows Franny Apsley’s perilous quest to uncover the truth behind the sudden discovery of the princes’ bones. In Charles II’s court of intrigue and deceit, Franny must decide what she’ll risk—for England’s salvation, her family’s safety, and her own happiness.
Author Links:
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Threads Bluesky Book Bub Amazon Author Page Goodreads
BOOK REVIEW: THE KING’S INTELLIGENCER
The fate of Prince Richard V and his younger brother, Prince Richard, Duke of York, both last seen in 1483, is explored in The King’s Intelligencer by Elizabeth St.John. The story begins almost two centuries later in 1674, when workmen unexpectedly unearth children’s bones in the Tower of London. As a result, the mystery of what happened to the missing princes is reignited.
Franny Apsley, a confidante to Mary Stewart, heir to King Charles’s throne, is drawn into a secret mission by her cousin, Nan Wilmot, to investigate the truth behind the exhumed bones. Franny covertly becomes the king’s intelligencer, a secret spy, to gain access to locations where stored relics and documents might provide clues for solving the mystery. Her quest is complicated by her attraction to the court artist, Nicholas James, and a royal spy with cautionary warnings that a Catholic-driven plot in France could threaten the monarchy.
Author Elizabeth St.John’s impeccable research is demonstrated by her vivid descriptions of historical figures, structures, and landscapes at various locations—from London to the Lydiard residence then to Bolton Castle. The culture and the difficulties that Franny faces as a woman remain true to the period. Despite her limitations, she uses her cunning to mask her mission and to gain access to forbidden royal chambers. She bravely ventures into the glamorous façade of royal palaces and the debauchery of the king’s brothels to deliver messages to co-conspirators. Secret discoveries in castles and cathedrals provide her clues that help connect the past with the present.
The story focuses on a woman’s journey to discover how ancestral lines impact future generations. Franny’s investigation takes place over several months, the pacing often slower as she unveils clues. Although there are some beautifully written passages, there was a repeated grammatical error in which there was not a conjunction joining two verbs (e.g., “Franny glanced at Papa, frowned.”). Nonetheless, the overall storyline is intriguing and the unexpected ending is poignant and thought-provoking. The author’s notes gave helpful insight into the historical background of events and characters in the book.
I recommend The King’s Intelligencer for its suspenseful political intrigue and historical detail during the restoration of the British monarchy following the chaotic and destructive governance of Oliver Cromwell.
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
October 20, 2024
Book Spotlight A Home for Christmas MK McClintock #ChristmasRomance #HistoricalWesternRomance #ChristmasSpecial #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn
I am pleased to spotlight the book, A Home for Christmas, by MK McClintock in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held on October 21st – 25th, 2024. A Home for Christmas is a Historical Western Romance/Christmas published by Trappers Peak Publishing on November 5th, 2014 (227 pages).
Below are highlights of Home for Christmas and MK McClintock’s author bio.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/09/blog-tour-a-home-for-christmas-by-mk-mcclintock.html
HIGHLIGHTS: A HOME FOR CHRISTMAS
A Home for Christmas
by MK McClintock
Blurb:
Will six strangers find hope, love, and family at Christmas? A collection of three historical western short stories to inspire love and warm the heart.
“Christmas Mountain”
In search of family she barely knows and adventure she’s always wanted, Katherine Donahue is saved from freezing on a winter night in the mountains of Montana by August Hollister. Neither of them expected that what one woman had in mind was a new beginning for them both.
“Teton Christmas”
Heartache and a thirst for adventure lead McKensie Stewart and her sister to Wyoming after the death of their parents. With the help of a widowed aunt and a charming horse breeder, McKensie discovers that hope is a cherished promise, and there is no greater gift than love.
“Lily’s Christmas Wish”
Lily Malone has never had a real family or a real Christmas. This holiday season, she might get both. From an orphanage in New York City to the rugged mountains of Colorado, Lily sends out only one wish. But when the time comes, can she give it up so someone else’s wish can come true?
If you love inspirational romance and heartfelt holidays, then you’ll enjoy this trio of stories as we remember the true meaning of love any time of the year.
Praise for A Home for Christmas:
“Ms. McClintock has a true genius when writing beauty to touch the heart. This holiday treat is a gift any time one needs to remember the true meaning of love!”
~ InD’tale Magazine on A Home for Christmas
“The cold nips at your face and delicious Christmas cake leaves you wanting more.”
~ M. Ann Roher, author of Mattie on A Home for Christmas
Buy Links:
This title is available in e-book, paperback, large print, and audio, and on #KindleUnlimited.
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4NV8gJ
Large Print Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Short-Story-Collection-Cambron/dp/0996507655
Books-A-Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Home-Christmas/Mk-McClintock/9780991330645?id=6466796594150
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-home-for-christmas-mk-mcclintock/1121050762?ean=9780991330645
AUTHOR BIO: M K MCCLINTOCK
MK McClintock is an award-winning author of historical romantic fiction about chivalrous men and strong women who appreciate chivalry. Her stories of romance, mystery, and adventure sweep across the American West to the Victorian British Isles with places and times between and beyond.
MK enjoys a quiet life in the northern Rocky Mountains. You can find her online at www.mkmcclintock.com.
••Her works include the Montana Gallagher, Crooked Creek, British Agent, and Whitcomb Springs series. She has also written A Home for Christmas, a heartwarming collection set in 1800s Montana, Wyoming, and Colorado, and The Case of the Copper King, a romantic and adventurous western mystery set in 1899 Colorado.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.mkmcclintock.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mkmcclintock/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mk-mcclintock
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/MK-McClintock/e/B006UV5PPI
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
October 18, 2024
Barnes & Noble Book Fair Colo Blvd Oct 19 Southlands Oct 20 @BNColoradoBlvd @BNSouthlands @BN @COGreatAuthors @JudithBriles #Colorado #books #gifts #weekend #bookreaders
Ten award-winning and bestselling local authors will be gathering at the Barnes & Noble Book Fair on Saturday, October 19 at the Colorado Blvd. location in Glendale to sign books in support of the Colorado Author’s Hall of Fame from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. On Sunday, October 20, they will be at the Southlands bookstore from 10 am to 5 pm.
B&N Colorado Blvd, Glendale (Oct 19th)
B&N Southlands, Aurora (Oct 20th)
Barnes & Noble is a contributor to the Aspiring Authors Scholarships and the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame.
The book signing event will feature many other local authors of all genres including children’s books, inspiration, mystery, techno-thrillers, young adult fantasy, historical fiction, horror, and more.
For more information about the Colorado Authors Hall of Fame and the Aspiring Authors Scholarships, visit www.ColoradoAuthorsHallofFame.org
October 15, 2024
Special Kindle Deal Amulet’s Rapture Linnea Tanner Oct 17-20 #AmuletsRapture #CurseClansmenKings #FantasyHistoricalRomance #Mythology #HistoricalFantasy #Romance #Arthurian #Adventure #Rome #Britain #IARTG @linneatanner
SPECIAL KINDLE DEAL
AMULET’S RAPTURE
(Book 3 Curse of Clansmen and Kings)
GRAB FREE EBOOK OCTOBER 17 – 20, 2024
CLICK https://linneatanner.co/AmuletsRapture
Calling all Historical/Fantasy/Romance readers to grab a free e-book of the award-winning historical fantasy, Amulet’s Rapture (Book 3 Curse of Clansmen and Kings), by Linnea Tanner for a limited time on Kindle from October 17-20.
BOOK LINK: AMULET’S RAPTURE
Available on Kindle Unlimited Until Oct 20
Amazon Universal: https://linneatanner.co/AmuletsRapture
BOOK LINK: CURSE OF CLANSMEN AND KINGS SERIES
Available on Kindle Unlimited Until Oct 20
Amazon Universal:
https://linneatanner.co/curseofclansmenandkings
PRAISE FOR AMULET’S RAPTURE
“With a gripping plot, mindblowing storytelling, and unpredictable twists, Amulet’s Rapture by Linnea Tanner is going to be among my top three favorites of this year.” — Readers’ Favorite
“A strangely evocative, smoothly readable tale about how lovers deal with Britannia’s tribes and ancient Rome.”— Kirkus Review
“From the first page, the reader is swept up in the magical, high-stakes world of Ancient Britain and Rome as we follow Catrin’s struggle to survive the brutalities of the Roman Regime and the dark magic of enemy druids. The plot is a whirlwind of action, romance, magic, and history which leaves the reader breathless at the end of each chapter and eager to discover the next twist and turn in the protagonist’s journey.”— Review by Book Excellence
“Tanner’s work offers gripping action and thought-provoking plotting and constant intrigue. When the story involves personal insights or a character’s inner dialogue, it is believable and real. Amulet’s Rapture delivers it all.”— Authors Reading
“Linnea Tanner once again captures the attention of her audience and weaves a magical story of love, survival and morality. Tanner is skilled at storytelling and weaving a supernatural based story using myth and legend as well as being historically accurate. Tanner is vivid in her descriptions and dialog taking her audience along on an intense journey of transformation and survival.”— Amazon Reviewer
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October 14, 2024
Release Day Book Blast The Vow Jude Berman #TheVow #AngelicaKauffman #WomenInArt, #HistoricalFiction #ArtHistory #BlogTour #BookBlast #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn
I am pleased to spotlight The Vow by Jue Berman in The Coffee Pot Book Club Release Day Blog Tour being held today on October 15th, 2024. The Vow is a Biographical Historical Fiction published by She Writes Press (368 pages).
Below are highlights of The Vow and Jude Berman’s author bio.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/09/blog-tour-the-vow-by-jude-berman.html
HIGHLIGHTS: THE VOW
The Vow
by Jude Berman
Blurb
In a stunning work of feminist historical fiction for readers who loved Dawn Tripp’s Georgia and Whitney Scharer’s The Age of Light, Jude Berman brings painter Angelica Kauffman to life.
Accused of dressing as a boy to study in the prestigious galleries of eighteenth-century Italy, child prodigy Angelica Kauffman has set high goals for herself. She is determined to become a history painter, a career off-limits to women. To ensure her success, she has vowed never to marry.
Shattering the glass ceiling of her times, Kauffman paints royalty, mingles with illustrious artists, and becomes one of the only female founders of the Royal Academy of Arts in London. But her path is fraught with challenges and eventually she questions if a vow of a different sort is necessary if she is to answer the deepest call of her heart.
Buy Links:
Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/br2a8w
Publisher’s Buy Link: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Vow/Jude-Berman/9781647427887
AUTHOR BIO: JUDE BERMAN
Jude Berman has a BA in art from Smith College and an EdD in cross-cultural communication from UMass Amherst. After a career in academic research, she built a freelance writing and editing business and ran two small Indie presses. She lives in Berkeley, CA, where she continues to work with authors and write fiction.
In her free time, she volunteers for progressive causes, paints with acrylic watercolors, gardens, and meditates. The Die, metaphysical speculative fiction about saving democracy, was published in 2024.
Visit judeberman.com for Jude’s books and judeberman.org for her art.
Author Links:
Website Art website Facebook LinkedIn
Instagram Threads Amazon Author Page Goodreads
PRAISE FOR THE VOW
**Finalist for Historical Fiction at the 2024 American Fiction Awards**
“Jude Berman has created a spirited, engaging glimpse into the life of one of the most important artists of the eighteenth century. Kauffman was a true free spirit, dedicated to her art, and that is captured beautifully in this novel.”—Susanne Dunlap, author of The Portraitist: A Novel of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard
“With skillful prose and classical descriptions, Berman paints a vivid portrait of a woman defying the constraints of her time, making this novel an unforgettable masterpiece in its own right.” —Joanne Howard, author of Sleeping in the Sun
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
October 8, 2024
Dirk Strasser Conquist #HistoricalFantasy #MagicRealism #Conquistadors #Incas #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @DirkStrasser @cathiedunn
I‘m pleased to welcome Dirk Strasser as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between Ocstober 7th – 18th, 2024. Dirk Strasser is the author of the Historical Fantasy, Conquist, released by Roundfire Books on 1st September 2024 (360 pages).
Below are highlights of Conquist, Dirk Strasser’s author bio, and an excerpt from his book.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/09/blog-tour-conquist-by-dirk-strasser.html
HIGHLIGHTS: CONQUIST
Conquist
by Dirk Strasser
Blurb:
Capitán Cristóbal de Varga’s drive for glory and gold in 1538 Peru leads him and his army of conquistadors into a New World that refuses to be conquered. He is a man torn by life-long obsessions and knows this is his last campaign.
What he doesn’t know is that his Incan allies led by the princess Sarpay have their own furtive plans to make sure he never finds the golden city of Vilcabamba. He also doesn’t know that Héctor Valiente, the freed African slave he appointed as his lieutenant, has found a portal that will lead them all into a world that will challenge his deepest beliefs. And what he can’t possibly know is that this world will trap him in a war between two eternal enemies, leading him to question everything he has devoted his life to – his command, his Incan princess, his honor, his God.
In the end, he faces the ultimate dilemma: how is it possible to battle your own obsessions . . . to conquer yourself?
Buy Links:
Universal Amazon Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/4AM52K
Publisher’s Conquist page: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/roundfire-books/our-books/conquist-novel
AUTHOR BIO: DIRK STRASSER
Dirk Strasser’s epic fantasy trilogy The Books of Ascension—Zenith, Equinox and Eclipse—was published in German and English, and his short stories have been translated into several European languages. “The Doppelgänger Effect” appeared in the World Fantasy Award-winning anthology Dreaming Down Under. He is the co-editor of Australia’s premier science-fiction and fantasy magazine, Aurealis.
Dirk was born in Germany but has lived most of his life in Australia. He has written a series of best-selling school textbooks, trekked the Inca trail to Machu Picchu and studied Renaissance history. “Conquist” was first published as a short story in the anthology Dreaming Again (HarperCollins). The serialized version of Conquist was a finalist in the Aurealis Awards Best Fantasy Novel category. Dirk’s screenplay version of Conquist won the Wildsound Fantasy/Sci-Fi Festival Best Scene Reading Award and was a featured finalist in the Cinequest Film & Creativity Festival and the Creative World Awards.
Author Links:
Website: https://www.dirkstrasser.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DirkStrasser
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054955883297
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirk-strasser-1249a949/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/author/B00CWMHGHO
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/203225407-conquist
Dirk’s blog: https://www.dirkstrasser.com/dirks-blog
EXCERPT: CONQUIST
Chapter 4 The Honor of the Fathers
Surrounded by snowdrifts from the previous night’s storm, Cristóbal and Diego fought to stand firm against the mountain wind. Cristóbal pushed his crossbow hard against his shoulder and took aim at a herd of alpacas on a far slope. He cherished these moments alone with his clever cousin, free from the burden of command which had grown every day since they had left Machu Picchu.
“You really think I’ll be able to hit one of the alpacas from here?”
Although Diego had some of his cousin’s height, in all other ways he was physically his opposite. Diego was soft where Cristóbal was firm. He stooped where the Capitán stood unflinchingly rigid. His beard grew in wild tangles while Cristóbal’s face defiantly laid every blemish bare.
“The bolt will make the distance,” said Diego. “I can’t speak for your aim.”
Cristóbal smiled and widened his stance. “We both know it’s not my aim that’s the problem.”
“No, it’s usually what you aim at that we need to worry about.” Diego took a deep breath.
“Cristóbal, please don’t tell me you’ve asked for her.”
“I like the feel of this new crossbow of yours.”
“Have you forgotten Incan emperors marry their sister? How can you install Huarcay as emperor when you’re obsessed with his sister?”
Cristóbal lowered his crossbow and glared at Diego. Although they had been inseparable since boyhood, tending the horses on his father’s diminishing lands, he often wished his cousin didn’t share his family’s stubborn streak. “Maybe instead of disapproving, you should find yourself a companion among the Incan servants.”
“Do you really need a princess?”
“Spain wouldn’t have an empire without the marriage of Isabella and Ferdinand. Great power comes from great alliances.”
“I can remember our fathers talking about honor above all else. Honra sobre todo. But when did our families ever speak about great alliances?”
“Isn’t that why we stowed away to the New World all those years ago, Diego? To find greatness?” Cristóbal lifted the crossbow to his chin again. “Can we finally put your new invention to the test?”
“Yes, Capitán.”
“Let’s make certain there’s no chance involved.” He raised his nose in line with the bolt. “Do you see the white one…there in the middle of the herd? That’s the one I’m aiming for.”
“The Incas believe the white alpacas are sacred.”
“Don’t worry. After we skin it, the Incas won’t be able to tell the color of its coat.”
Cristóbal welcomed the familiar surge of confidence as he took aim. His breathing steadied to a calm rhythm, his crossbow now part of his arm, the bolt head tingling as if it was his fingertip. Of course, he wasn’t going to miss.
The white alpaca raised its head as if sniffing a sudden wind change. A sharp twang pierced the crisp high-altitude air. The alpaca moved with lightning speed, but the bolt struck it in the throat mid-leap. It collapsed onto a snow drift as the other alpacas scattered in confusion.
Cristóbal turned the weapon around to examine it. “I have the feeling that this crossbow of yours will do something important.”
A clap of thunder echoed in the distance.
“Maybe,” said Diego, “but no crossbow can help us if we can’t find Manco Inca.” They led their horses toward the white alpaca. The snow-crested Andean peaks jutted from the low clouds in the distance, piercing the blue sky. “I hate telling you something else you don’t want to hear, but—”
“Ha, you love nothing better.” Cristóbal removed the bolt from the alpaca’s throat. “I’ll save you the trouble this time. I know the men are getting restless. We need to find Vilcabamba.”
“It’s more than restless. I hear things they would never say to your face.”
A sudden snow flurry stung their skin as they slung the animal over Cristóbal’s horse.
“Come, let’s get this alpaca back to camp,” said Cristóbal. “If we approach from the south, the Incas won’t see it’s white.”
***
By the time they had reached the campsite, the mountain peaks had disappeared behind billowing clouds, and it was clear another storm was on the way. The stench always drew Cristóbal back to the reality of his campaign. As usual he gagged. He fought to control his breathing, knowing he only needed to bear it a while and the pungency would fade. A man can grow numb to anything. Smells. Frustration. Even failure.
They had all been stuck on the plateau far too long. A company this size had to keep moving or it would drown in its own excrement. The storms had kept them trapped here for two weeks, and worse, they had no obvious path forward. Many of the soldiers had stopped donning their armor. They played card games, gambled for shares of future fortunes, and traded insults. Melting snow for water wasn’t a fit duty for a conquistador, and only so many hunters were needed each day. Worst of all, since leaving Machu Picchu six months ago, Cristóbal had seen no sign he was looking in the right place for Manco Inca’s hidden city. All he had was Huarcay’s assurances that they were close, while other conquistadors were searching elsewhere.
Lieutenant Rodrigo Benalcázar approached with the three soldiers he always seemed to have in tow, Carlos, Luis and Martín. The wiry lieutenant gave Diego a sideways glance, as if he was the cause of the stink that shrouded the camp. Although there had been no threat since Machu Picchu, Rodrigo was wearing his full armor, including breastplate, gorget, and arm and leg greaves.
Cristóbal asked, “Any news from the patrols, Lieutenant Benalcázar?”
“No, Capitán, but Lieutenant Valiente hasn’t returned yet. Should I send out a search party?” He glanced back at the three soldiers with a half-smile through his thin beard and collapsed cheeks. As always, he was keen to present his fellow lieutenant in the worst possible light.
“That won’t be necessary. He knows where we are.” Cristóbal indicated the alpaca behind him. “Could you get this skinned? And make sure the Incas don’t see it.”
“Why?”
“Diego tells me the white ones are sacred to them.”
“So? Are we now appeasing pagans?”
“No, of course not, but our campaign will falter without Huarcay’s support.”
“You mean it hasn’t faltered already, Capitán?”
Lightning lit up the clouds crowding the nearest mountaintop.
Cristóbal said, “When the storms finally ease, we’ll leave.”
“To where?” A clap of thunder rolled down the slopes.
“Wherever Huarcay directs us. He tells me we’re close to Vilcabamba.”
“Is it time for one of the other Incas to direct us, Capitán?”
Cristóbal stiffened. As usual Rodrigo was trying to test his authority. He was a hard and cunning man who had fought his way to where he was from the slums of Extremadura, the poorest region of Spain. He was the sort of man you wanted on your side in a fight, and who instinctively inspired obedience. “What are you saying, Lieutenant Benalcázar?”
“There are rumors, Capitán. The men talk.”
Were the three soldiers behind the lieutenant smirking? “If the men are wasting their time with gossip, then maybe you should make sure they have extra duties.”
“Yes, Capitán. I’ll see to it.”
Cristóbal dismounted and looked up at the darkening sky as Carlos, Luis and Martín carried the alpaca carcass away. Where was Héctor? This was not like him.
Twitter: @cathiedunn
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October 1, 2024
Deborah Swift Operation Tulip #WW2 #HistoricalFiction #Holland #Romance #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @swiftstory @cathiedunn
I‘m pleased to welcome Deborah Swift again as the featured author in The Coffee Pot Book Club Blog Tour being held between September 11th – October 2nd, 2024. Deborah Swift is the author of the Historical Fiction, Operation Tulip (Secret Agent Series), released by HQ Digital on 12th September 2024 (410 pages).
Below are highlights of Operation Tulip, Deborah Swift’s author bio, and an excerpt from her book.
Tour Schedule Page: https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2024/07/blog-tour-operation-tulip-by-deborah-swift.html
HIGHLIGHTS: OPERATION TULIP
Operation Tulip
(Secret Agent Series)
By Deborah Swift
Blurb
Holland, 1944: Undercover British agent Nancy Callaghan has been given her toughest case yet. A key member of the Dutch resistance has been captured, and Nancy must play the role of a wealthy Nazi to win over a notorious SS officer, Detlef Keller, and gain crucial information.
England: Coding expert Tom Lockwood is devastated that the Allies have failed to push back the Nazis, leaving Northern Holland completely cut off from the rest of Europe, and him from his beloved Nancy. Desperate to rescue the love of his life, Tom devises Operation Tulip, a plan to bring Nancy home.
But as Nancy infiltrates the Dutch SS, she finds herself catching the eye of an even more senior member of the Party. Is Nancy in too deep, or can Tom reach her before she gets caught?
Inspired by the true events of occupied Holland during WW2, don’t miss this utterly gripping story of love, bravery and sacrifice.
Praise for Deborah Swift:
‘A well crafted tale… this book did not disappoint’ NetGalley reviewer, 
‘There is action, mystery and romantic entanglements stirred into the story for a fantastically entertaining read’ NetGalley reviewer,
‘Deborah Swift never disappoints’ NetGalley reviewer,
‘A joy to read‘ NetGalley reviewer,
Triggers: mild violence associated with the era.
Buy Links:
Universal Buy Link: http://mybook.to/Tulip
Buy Link for bookstores: https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/operation-tulip-ww2-secret-agent-series-deborah-swift
AUTHOR BIO: DEBORAH SWIFT
Deborah Swift is a USA TODAY bestselling author of twenty books who is passionate about the past. Deborah used to be a costume designer for the BBC, before becoming a writer. Now she lives in an old English school house in a village full of 17th Century houses, near the glorious Lake District. After taking a Masters Degree in Creative Writing, she enjoys mentoring aspiring novelists and has an award-winning historical fiction blog at her website www.deborahswift.com.
Deborah loves to write about how extraordinary events in history have transformed the lives of ordinary people, and how the events of the past can live on in her books and still resonate today.
Recent books include The Poison Keeper, about the Renaissance poisoner Giulia Tofana, which was a winner of the Wishing Shelf Book of the Decade Award, and a Coffee Pot Book Club Gold Medal. Her most recent books are The Silk Code and The Shadow Network both set in the Second World War.
Author Links:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/swiftstory
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authordeborahswift/
Website: www.deborahswift.com
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.co.uk/deborahswift1/
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/deborah-swift
Amazon: http://author.to/DeborahSwift
EXCERPT: OPERATION TULIP BY DEBORAH SWIFT
London, December 1944
‘There’s someone I want you to meet!’ Neil’s voice down the phone was excited.
Tom clamped the phone receiver to his ear and got a pencil ready. ‘What about?’
‘Just say you’ll meet us. Tomorrow, I’ll come up to London. His name’s Pavel Aaldenburg and he’s Dutch. We’ve had the most belting idea!’
They arranged to meet at lunchtime at the Lyons’ Corner House, where Tom knew it was always busy and noisy and no-one would pay them any attention.
When he arrived at the door, Tom told the Nippy, ‘I’m meeting someone, he’s booked a table – name of Callaghan.’ She led him through the tables to a place at the far corner where Neil was already waiting, along with a tall, lanky-looking man, in a flat cap. This must be Pavel.
Neil waved and the other man looked up, and a smile lit up his broad open face.
‘Can I order first, before we talk? I’m starving,’ Tom said. He didn’t go for Shepherd’s Pie this time because it always reminded him of Nancy. That’s how they’d first got together – here in the Lyons’ Corner House over Shepherd’s Pie. He ordered sausages and mash instead.
‘That sounds good. I’ll have the same. A man needs his sausage.’ Pavel winked at the young waitress in her black and white uniform, and the girl, grasping the innuendo, turned scarlet.
Tom, seeing her misery, said, ‘And tea please. We’ll take a pot of tea for three.’ He handed her back the menus.
One the waitress had gone, Neil said. ‘Pavel and I have cooked up a plan.’
The other man grinned.
‘Tell him,’ Neil said.
‘I’m a photographer,’ Pavel said. ‘And I’ve got an idea for a commission. I want to get behind the lines in occupied Holland – do a piece on the two sides of Holland, something to try to get the Americans to do something. An opinion piece if you like.’
‘That’s a cracking idea,’ Tom said. ‘Churchill’s been trying for ages to get the Americans to bite.’
‘Pictures would sell the story,’ Pavel said. ‘But I need an assistant, someone who can keep me in touch with England via wireless. And someone who can write decent copy.’
Tom knew immediately what they were asking. ‘Who’s organising this? Is it the BBC?’
Pavel shrugged. ‘No-one. I’m a freelance. Once I have the material, I’ll sell it, no problem.’
‘You mean, we’ll just do it ourselves?’ Tom was doubtful.
Neil was almost fizzing in his seat. ‘It’s perfect, Tom, isn’t it? I’ll be your contact here in England and we’ll stay in touch by radio. Lilli has said she’d make us both radio sets. You know, her father worked for Blaupunkt, so she’ll supply you with an unoffocial transmitter, and we can use your coding method. You’ll be in charge of getting on a frequency and making the transmissions, and of finding a way of getting the copy and photographs out.’
Pavel leant forward. ‘I know nothing about coding or radio, but I guess being Dutch will help. I’ve got contacts in the North.’
‘It’ll be harder, with two of us,’ Tom said, stalling. He was uncertain of Pavel Aaldenburg and unwilling to team with someone he didn’t know.
‘It’ll be perfect,’ Neil said. ‘Between us all, we should be able to get you there and get the story out, and once we do, the Yanks’ll be clamouring to help.’
Pavel agreed. ‘A first-hand report, and pictures, that’ll do the trick. Fly on the wall stuff, showing how bad it really is. Otherwise it’s all too easy to ignore. But a splash across the papers – the public outrage will mean they’ll have to do something.’
‘It will take planning, and I need to think about it. Going into an occupied zone is a life-risking activity.’ Tom paused as the waitress delivered his food. He’d grown cautious, it had dawned on him that going off into occupied territory with someone he hardly knew might not be the wisest idea. It was just the sort of thing he was always advising agents not to do. ‘I can’t just up and go without giving it serious thought – there’s my job for a start.’
Neil slapped his hand on the table. ‘Oh Tom, for pity’s sake! A month ago you were the one who wanted us to go straight to Biesbos and crawl through swamps to get there.’
He was right. But the prospect of doing it with someone he knew and trusted was different from doing it with someone he’d only just set eyes on.
‘Well, you get the passes sorted and the funding, and we’re on.’ Tom was playing for time, because he didn’t like to put a dampener on Neil’s big plan.
‘Good man!’ Pavel thumped the table. ‘I’ll need to make up a resume for you. Don’t suppose you’ve any journalism experience?’
‘None whatsoever.’ He hoped this would put Pavel off.
‘Good. Then we can just make it up.’
Twitter: @cathiedunn
Instagram & Threads: @thecoffeepotbookclub
Bluesky: @cathiedunn.bsky.social
September 24, 2024
Special Kindle Deal Apollo’s Raven Linnea Tanner September 26-30 #ApollosRaven #CurseClansmenKings #FantasyHistoricalRomance #Fantasy #HistoricalFantasy #Romance #Mythology #Arthurian #Adventure #Rome #Britain #IARTG @Linneatanner
SPECIAL KINDLE DEAL
APOLLO’S RAVEN
(Book 1 Curse of Clansmen and Kings)
GRAB FREE EBOOK SEPTEMBER 26 – 30, 2024
CLICK https://linneatanner.co/ApollosRaven
Calling all Historical/Fantasy/Romance readers to grab a free e-book of the multi-award winning APOLLO’S RAVEN (Book 1 Curse of Clansmen and Kings) by Linnea Tanner for a limited time on Kindle from September 26-30, 2024. Be swept into an epic tale of forbidden romance, magical adventure, and political intrigue in ancient Rome and Britain.
BOOK LINKS APOLLO’S RAVEN
Available on Kindle Unlimited
Amazon Universal: https://linneatanner.co/ApollosRaven
Amazon UK: amzn.to/3uTh5Eu
Amazon AU: amzn.to/3v3fnQS
Amazon CN: amzn.to/3v3Epzf
BOOK LINK: CURSE OF CLANSMEN AND KINGS SERIES
Amazon Universal: https://linneatanner.co/curseofclansmenandkings
PRAISE FOR APOLLO’S RAVEN
“If you mingled the history and romance of Philippa Gregory with the magical fantasy of George R.R. Martin, the result just might be the fascinating Apollo’s Raven (Curse of Clansmen and Kings Book 1) by Linnea Tanner.” —Amazon Reviewer
“What a story! I am a huge fan of Game of Thrones,” and this book grabbed me in much the same way. The author took me inside the world of ancient Romans and Celts. The imagery was compelling. I could see the characters, the weapons, the countryside, the lairs, and the castle. She stayed true to the times.” —Amazon Reviewer
“An engaging historical fantasy, Apollo’s Raven by Linnea Tanner is a captivating tale of triangles; love, lust and espionage, friend, foe, and spies; barbarians, civilized Rome and spiritual-supernatural beings…she weaves a tapestry of intrigue, a Gordian knot of rivalry and a love story.”—Authors Reading [2019 Pencraft Book of the Year Award]
The requisite fantasy elements of magic and mystery abound . . . Tanner also does an admirable job weaving in politics and mythology of a bygone people. A complex and promising start to a new fantasy series.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Apollo’s Raven is a historical fantasy with strong elements of romance, political intrigue, and magic. Many surprising twists enrich the historically drawn plot. Points of view shift between different characters effectively, heightening the tension from one moment to the next.”—Historical Novel Society Review” 
September 23, 2024
Apollo’s Raven Fantasy Giveaway #BookGiveaway #ApollosRaven #BargainBooksy #FreeKindle
My book, Apollo’s Raven, is being featured in a special Giveaway! 
One lucky winner will receive loads of eBooks and a brand new Kindle! 
Join the giveaway now and cross your fingers for a chance to win.
Click on the Details of Your Subscriber Surge Giveaway Below:
Giveaway Name: Fantasy Giveaway – Hosted by Bargain Booksy
Begins on: 09-15-2024
Ends on: 11-14-2024
